Conveyer wheel



Feb..6, 1934. P, ANGLE 1,945,506

CONVEYER WHEEL Filed July 14, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Inventor: PH/L/P E ,4/VGLE,

CONVEYER WHEEL Filed July 14, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fcgid IQwGMO PH/L/P E 14/VGL E,

Feb. 6, 1934. R E LE 1,945,506

CONVEYER WHEEL Filed July 14, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 PH/L /P E. flA/GL E,

Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVEYER WHEEL Philip E. Angle, Duquesne, Pa.

Application July 14, 1931. Serial No. 550,802

3 Claims. (01. 295 21) This invention relates broadly to pig casting machines and more particularly to conveyer wheels for use with such machines.

In the production of pig iron, it is common practice to pour the molten metal from a receiving ladle into iron molds carried by an endless conveyer, the molds being supported by wheels which have movement on tracks and are mounted on link pins or shafts forming part of the conveyor chain.

The type of wheel heretofore most commonly used in pig casting machines was made of cast iron or other suitable cast metal with a solid hub formed with a bore to receive the link pins or shafts of the conveyer element or chain.

This solid bearing type of wheel was open to serious objections in that chilled globules of iron or what is commonly termed shot and also slag, dust and the like would work its way in around the bearing pin or shaft and into the central portion of the bearing, causing severe wear and abrasion and frequently creating such friction as to bind the wheel and prevent it from turning on its shaft. If the bearing became worn to the point where it could no longer be used the entire wheel was scrapped, in view of the fact that the bearing and wheel were made integral, and, furthermore, these solid bearing wheels were heavy and cumbersome. As there are a large number of wheels used in the average pig casting machine, the cost of maintenance was considerably increased by the scrapping of worn and damaged wheels and the trouble experienced due to defective bearings.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a wheel for use in pig casting machines wherein the bearing surface is considerably reduced in area and at the same time the proper strength of the bearing maintained, and. wherein also any abrasives which may work their way into the ends of the journal or bearing are permitted to escape before they can damage the bearing surface to any material extent.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in View of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a conveyer wheel constructed in accordance with the features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in transverse vertical section taken longitudinally of the bearing.

Figures 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8, 9 and 10 and 11 and 12 are, respectively, similar views of modifications in structure.

First referring to the form of wheel shown in Figures 1 and 2, the wheel is made in three parts, namely, wheel ring 5, front bearing plate 6 and back bearing plate 7. These parts are preferably made of drop forged steel and bolted together in assembled relation by means of bolts 8, the ring 5 being formed with bored lugs 5 to receive said bolts. The ring 5 is depressed from opposite sides to receive the bearing plates 6 and 7, which are provided with aligned bearing openings or axle openings for receiving the pin, shaft or axle 9. These plates form relatively short end bearings on the pin or shaft 9 in contradistinction to the solid bearing extending along substantially the full width of the wheel as heretofore most commonly used. The front plate 6 is in the form of a spider having openings 10 therein which provide an outlet for the chilled globules of iron or other particles which may work their way into the interior of the wheel through the bearing and which in the case of a solid bearing would remain in the 76 central area thereof and cause serious damage thereto and in many instances bind the wheel so that it would not turn on the bearing.

The bearing being made of drop forged steel or like hardened metal is superior to the usual 80 cast iron bearing, although considerably reduced in area and, furthermore, should the bearing be rendered unfit for further service, thefront and back bearing plates only need be renewed without scrapping the entire wheel.

Practical use has demonstrated that the first cost of this type of wheel is actually lessthan the usual alloy iron type, and the fact that the hearing plates are renewable has also brought about a considerable reduction in maintenance costs Figures 3 and 4 show a slight modification in structure, the three parts 5, 6 and 7 being preferably made of die-pressed steel plate with punched openings for the bolts or rivets 8, the latter being provided with separators 12 between the plates 6 and 7. The wheel ring 5 is formed with lugs 5=-, preferably three in number and equally spaced and formed with punched counter-sunk holes for the bolts or rivets 8. The front bearing plate 6 is clamped against the lugs 5 on the wheel ring in which it fits. The back bearing plate 7 is of regular annular contour and also fits in the wheel ring 5. In this instance, as in the wheel illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the bearing plate is of spider formation with openings 10 for the escape of chilled globules of iron, slag, dust and like particles, and the front and back plates 6 and '7 form relatively short bearing portions on the pin or shaft 9. While it is prefered to use diepressed steel plate in making this form of wheel, lip

loo 7 it will be understood that other material may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the form of wheel shown in Figures 5 and 6, the front bearing plate is made integral with the flanged wheel ring portion 5, and the back bearing plate 7 consists of a circular disk which is welded at its circumference into the wheel ring, no bolts being required in this typeof wheel. In this instance, also, the holes 10 are provided, being formed in the front portion or plate of the wheel ring 5, and the bearing surface is relatively reduced in area. The wheel may be made from diepressed steel and heat-treated.

In Figures '7 and 8 a type of wheel is :shown which may be made from forged steel. The inner diameter of the wheel ring 5 is beveled outwardly to receive the front .and .back bearing plates 6 and '7 with their outer faces flush with the ring. The bearing plates in this instance are simply flat plates with beveled edges, the front plate being of spider formation to provide the openings 10 and both plates being held together in assembled relation with the wheel ring 5 by countersunk rivets 8.

In Figures 9 and 10 an all welded type of wheel is shown, which may be made from forged or pressed steel. The wheel ring 5 .of this construction forms the rim or tread portion of the wheel only, and the rear plate 7 has its inside face depressed to form an annular shoulder 15. The

ring 5 is fitted within the depression in the rear plate 7 with its outside periphery engaged against the shoulder 15. The ring 5 is secured to the plate '7 by welding, as at 16. The plate '7 is of materially greater diameter than the ring 5 so as to project beyond the ring and form the wheel flange 1'7. The front plate 6 has a diameter slightly less than the inside diameter .of the ring 5" so as to fit snugly therein, and is secured in position .by Welding, as at 18. The front plate 6* is cut away to form openings 10 through which any chilled particles or globules .of iron, etc., may readily escape.

In Figures 11 and'12 a one-piece cast wheel is shown which may be made from any suitable cast iron, steel or alloy. In this construction the wheel consists of a hollow body composed of a ring or tread portion 5 an integral rim or back wheel 7 and an integral front wheel 6 separated from the wheel 7* and provided with openings 10' through which any chilled particles or globules scribed and shown my improved form of wheels as primarily used with pig casting machine conveyers, they are not limited to this use alone, but may be used with any suitable construction.

In each of the foregoing types of wheel the bearing surface is materially reduced relative to the solid bearing type of wheel heretofore most commonly used in conveyer mechanisms, and, due to the hollow construction of the wheels and escape openings, any chilled globules or iron or particles of slag or other abrasive matter entering around the bearing ,pin or shaft will fall into the interior of the wheel and pass out through the escape openings.

Iclaim:

1. A .conveyer wheel for pig casting machines formed with spaced bearing portions to reduce the area of the bearing surface and openings in the spaced portions to provide an outlet for chilled globules of iron and like particles.

2. A track wheel having spaced bearing portions provided with aligned axle openings, the space between the bearing portions constituting a chamber with which the axle openings communicate, said chamber being provided to receive foreign matter entering through the axle openings, and said chamber having an outlet for the escape of foreign matter received therein through the axle openings. 4

3. A track wheel having spaced bearing portions, provided with aligned axle openings, the space between the bearing portions constituting a chamber with which the axle openings communiof the wheel for the escape of foreign matter re- I ceived through the axle openings.

PHILIP E. ANGLE. 

